First off its "losing" second off they aren't losing him, he is simply engaging in other efforts full time and doing the Microsoft thing part time. Always amazes me that he is so cordial and relaxed being the worlds richest man and all. That would go to a
lot of peoples heads and its just fascinating!

Sorry about the spelling correction but I like to point out the obvious ones since grammar seems to be a deteriorating thing these days.

For the richest man in the world to give up a very influential position and concentrate on some of the basic aspects of humanity like education and health care is phenomenal. Bill will no doubt be a very influential figure in the world of charity, and I
personally feel that with this announcement, humankind has actually gained a lot more that what Microsoft may have lost.

I think it's right for Bill to put more energy into his foundation. He's a good guy, very intelligent and willing to make a change using his wealth. What better could happen to the world (especially those parts of it that are desparately in need of some
help).

I think Bill will have a hard time giving it up. This is some real bummer news but Im sure he wouldnt have even made the announcement if he didnt feel that he had top-notch, quality people working for him. Oh and Charles, i was kind of expecting you
to the the new CSA

I love that... Steve's done talking, so he stands up and walks out while the camera is rolling. That was perfect I showed my wife the video and she said "The world needs Bill more then Microsoft". After a thinking about that for a few seconds, she
is right. Thanks Bill! Looking forward to your next 2 years at MS and your foundation work after that. Cheers.

It seems to me that Bill has realized his persona now casts too wide of a shadow and prevents him from being as effective as he used to.
My take is, that he sees in Ozzie the same attributes that Microsoft used to get from him before the he became “BILL GATES"

I think that with Ozzie and him, as a behind the seen contributor, MSFT will most likely expand into the next big ERA.

I'm glad Bill did not decide to leave completely. It is good that he is going to work at the foundation. I hope the foundation funds a lot of cancer research and such. I know they did AIDs, but they probably do cancer too. I hope he changes the world with
his work at the foundation.

Steve seemed so energetic like always in the video...hard to get used to!

It is sad to see Bill go. I've been in the software business a long time, and I have definitely gone through a few phases in my career ( liking Microsoft and not liking Microsoft ). Bill Gates has been one of the most thought provoking figures in the industry
for the past couple of decades.

Bill moving on, kind of seems like a sign of the times. The software industry is maturing. We are starting to come to terms with the influence that our applications, frameworks, and systems actually have in our world. We've been busy building them, and
having a lot of fun doing it. Now we're getting older, and realizing what all of these capabilities mean in real terms, and how they can truly be used to make a significant positive impact in the world, and future generations.

I wish Bill al the luck with his Foundation work, he really does make a difference for 1000s of people over the world.

Not to mention, I will miss him after 2008. I have always liked Bill and his approach to MS work method. And i know its been werid but he has always had a good reason. I do feel though that he is a bit late at connecting with developers with Windows Live Dev
only coming around the coner and the VS Express Versions arent that old neither, but again all the best to him and his work.

As for Steve, clam down buddy, take a min and think wtf your doing. ;)

Bill gates, for better or worse you have been the face of technology for me since i was a little kid (which was not too long ago since im 25) and your company/software has inspirited and empowered me become the software engineer i am today. (C# Rocks)

To see you leave Microsoft in two years is really odd news, but I really wish you all the best in your future endeavors with the foundation.

I must agree with other comments though, you do look a bit down in the video and we all hope that this transition while hard is what you really want.

I thought Bill was great when I used his computers at a library in a town of 600 people to access the internet. I found it hard to believe that someone would donate so much equipment and money then. Since I have read about all the great things that him
and his wife are doing in helping with medicines and such. Then I think about how I haven't worked for years because they pay me to do what I love and its because of Bills software. Thanks Bill for helping out me, so I get to come to work and play all day
and for helping out so many of humanities family.

First of all I think its great to have both Steve B and Bill G on C9. Especialy so close to the announcement. Mr. Gates good luck and thanks for all you have done both at Microsoft and with your foundation.

I find it funny all over the Linux Blogsphere this morning people are saying stuff like "its great that he's stepping down, now is the chance for Linux to take over. With BillG gone, will Linux finally have its chance? Is this the opportunity for Linux to
take over. " And of course we all love the trolls on /. that are ripping the man to shreds and not focusing on the quality of work his foundation has done.

Anyways this is not the opportunity for Linux to tkae over, this is also not the year of the Linux desktop. This is an opportunity for MS to grow and change and to regain its place in the tech world as a lead.

The king is living his castle and the ministers are taking it over...... Isn't it sign of downturn of microsoft ?
when there is screwed competitors like Oracle and google is still agressively pursuing new projects.

To me, THIS IS THE TIME TO GET RID OF MICROSOFT SHARES IF YOU DON'T .,THEN WAIT TILL YOU LOOSE YOUR MONEY.

Rupe,I totally disagree with you... I think its time for Bill to move on and time for him to become just a chairman and nothing more. I think we are going to see things improve for MS, but it will never return to its glory days of MicroSerfs with the stock ticker
running along the bottom of everyone's computer etc...

Bill told Forbes magazine in the early nineties (1994 as I recall) he would not stay at MS beyond 50. That he announced is not shattering news, nor a surprise. He is just on schedule.

As for not looking at SteveB, I would not read anything into that as well.

That the stock did not crash is also not a surprise. The market knows that Bills goal has been achieved; there is a computer in the home and on the desk. ('A computer on every desk and in every home running Microsoft software') The market also knows services
is not Bills sweet spot, so again his timing and exit are right on point.

Bill should leave MS. The time is right. He has changed the world once, and with the BMG foundation, he has the chance to do it again. Compare that corporate behaviour to that found in Enron and WorldCom.

At least to me you are. You'll never know, with all the medical research at the foundation Bill might just double his wealth while change the world once more through bio-med research. He was always talking about how software and biology advances will change
the world so let see if he could do the same with biology as he did with software.

Have to say though, bill didn't look too happy, Steve is in contrast is beaming like Mr Mc'Donalds. I guess Bill leaving means full control to Steve. Oh btw, did you guys know steve is worth 11billon if i remember correctly on Forbes rich list.

All the Best Bill. You definitely have contributed a lot to the Computer World through Microsoft. I wish the same to the world through your foundation. Watching the energy and momentum in the new software and betas, Microsoft is definitely a head of
the curve and going to make a good impact in the years to come by with more great software and solutions.Good luck with your transistion.

Before watching this video I had read about this in Information Week and had some doubts as to the direction that this was going. But hearing BillG talk about it and coupling that with seeing some of the core developments in architecture and services that
the world is moving to (and how on top of them MS is), I feel that this is a great move for BillG and MS. Congratulations to MS for really stepping up Community Involvement and sticking to the common goal of innovative technology that can adapt to the rapid
changes in the hardware industry. And Congratulations to BillG especially, you have brought about innovation in so many ways and I hope the very best to you in your future endeavours. At this point, The World Does Need BillG More Than Microsoft, and it takes
a remarkable man to recognize and accept that.

Bill has always been a coder. He was smart in that he got good business people to work with, because that wasn't what he wanted to deal with. If you noticed, he would still try to be in touch with some of the technical things. He's always loved the software
and technology.

"Despite many denials, it is widely believed Mr Buffett made his gift conditional upon Mr Gates giving up his day job at Microsoft."

I don't think that Mr Buffett made such a condition. Certainly, driving the Bill&Melinda Gates Foundation in doing the best with such a huge amount of money will require a great management effort. I think Mr Gates just wants to direct all his energies in
those projects.

..and I add my wishes for Mr Gates and its foundation in doing more for other people.

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